In
the Days of Trial, His Saints He Will Cheer: Trials and
Cheers from Meridian Readers
Edited and compiled by Kathy Green
Feel the Burn
Read
Article Here
A Photographic Chronicle
of Loss: Story and photographs by Kjirstin Youngberg
I am sorry about the loss of
not just the physical elements of your new office, but of
the charring of a dream, although I trust that dream can
find a remarkable rebirth in the ashes of destruction.
My pledge of support for your
vision is to take my wife, children and extended family
to see States of Grace as soon as it is released in our
area. My response is in the same spirit as Joseph Smith,
when all around were expressing condolences on the loss
of a home of one of the members, he said something to this
effect: "I feel sorry five dollars worth.”
Thank you again for Brigham
City and the most poignant and practical depiction of the
Atonement I have ever seen portrayed in film.
David M. Tuttle
Lehi, Utah
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Tears and Cheers
Read
Article Here
The Cheeriest Person
in the Universe, by H. Wallace Goddard
This article immediately brought
me to tears. I dare say it saved my life. How do I say thank
you?
Linda Cottrell
Oak Harbor, Washington
**
Thanks for the "cheeriest"
article. I've been on that line of thinking for such a long
time. I rarely discuss it with anyone because I rarely find
anyone who thinks like that. More often that not, friends
are focused on God's punishment, consequences, his sorrow
with our lack of obedience, etc. etc. I love the "relentless
redemptiveness" quote. It says it all — but you managed
to add some description. Thanks and have a cheery day!
Peggy Lambert
(senior missionary in India!)
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One Fold, One Shepherd:
A Birthday Blessing
Read
Article Here
The Man Who Would Be
Jesus, by Kieth Merrill
Two years ago, my sister and
her husband took me to Salt Lake City for Christmas. I had
never been there; so that was my Christmas present. While
we were there, Sharon and I went to see this wonderful film.
I have never in all my life been that filled with emotion.
I joined the Church when I was 26 after an incredible dream
and experience. I have served as a stake and ward missionary
and have all the church videos and have watched them with
investigators many times, and have felt tears stream down
my face. But never have I been moved to such a level of
emotion as to sob out loud and not be able to stop for some
time. I must have sat there after the movie for about 20
minutes just taking it all in. Then I needed help to find
my way down the stairs and to the restroom, as I kept sobbing
and I could not see.
Thank you for deepening my
testimony, and increasing my excitement for the arrival
of the Savior. I don't seem to be able to find words to
describe my feelings even at this time a couple of years
later. I still cry and my heart swells when I recall the
experience that I received that day. I am watching for its
release, that I may purchase it for my nonmember family
and friends
Diana Paquette
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
**************************************************
That’s an Order
Read
Article Here
Order: a Heaven-made
Law, by Daryl Hoole
Thank you for printing this
one. I read her book sooooooo many years ago when I had
5 children ages 5 and under. Now all my 14 children are
grown and I needed this viewpoint to put "stuff in
three piles." Yup, spring cleaning is an event that
needs to happen every spring.
Reading this is like having
an old dear friend come to visit me.
Irene Tukuafu
Ashland, Oregon
**
Order — yes!!! a good article.
I also recommend a book called Clutter's Last Stand by Don
Aslett — a great motivator for getting up and going: a very
important aspect of household management.
Bob Taylor
Poulsbo, Washington
**
Amen to this idea.
I have been slowly going through
each room or closet in the house. It is amazing what I have
and what I can live without. Liberating is a key word here.
Steve Horrocks
Draper, UT
**
Yippeee!!! Daryl is back —
and with Meridian. Too easy and too fun. Thankfully, I was
one of those new brides (1963) living in California but
bought my copy of The Art of Homemaking and the companion
book/box of visual aids for teaching children. Everything
I ever knew about keeping a home and raising six kids, I
learned from Daryl and Relief Sociaety Homemaking Days.
Now, 43 years later, as we
prepare to move closer to family, I am dejunking and decluttering
again. Your articles are very timely for me.
Thankfully I have done some
dejunking and decluttering along the way.
Virginia Braley
Liberty Lake, Washington
*******************************************************
Pollution Solutions
Read
Article Here
Toxins, Part II. What
You Should Know About Them and What You Can Do About Them,
by Stan M. Gardner, M.D.
Thank you for printing these
articles. I hope the series will be continued.
Peggy Hanton
Gaithersburg, Maryland
*******************************************************
Choir of Angels
Read
Article Here
Today’s Striplings,
by Paul Bishop
I conduct a choir of 25 high
school boys and girls who come to my home every Sunday night
to practice. They give their time to sing in various Church
meetings. They truly serve selflessly, and I love to see
them share the Spirit through sacred music.
Last night, I overheard several
of them challenging each other to read the Book of Mormon
in 14 days. They figured out that they would need to read
39 pages a day. This wasn’t a requirement for a class; this
was just for fun! That seems like stripling-warrior youth
to me! They are amazing!
Mary-Rose McMullin
Raymond, Alberta, Canada
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A Forever Smile
Read
Article Here
A Prophet Called of
God, by Vickey Pahnke-Taylor
My wife daughter and I all
attended the dedication of the Detroit Temple in 1999 and
saw the Prophet and his wife. As we sat in the room waiting
for them to leave the Temple they stopped in the doorway
and greeted each and every one of us collectively with a
warm smile and a wave. That was an image that will last
a lifetime.
As a young teenager I sat in
the stake center and listened to President McKay deliver
the dedication prayer of that building. After the dedication
President McKay was coming down from the pulpit right into
my path and I was waiting. He stuck out his hand, looked
me in the eye, and shook my little hand with the power he
had in his. I remember the feel of his hand in mine. A prophet
of God. I am 60 years old now and still attend general priesthood
meetings in that chapel and can still see in my mind’s eye
a prophet of God as he was that day.
They built the Detroit Temple
on a piece of property next to that stake center which is
also on the same road that the Prophet Joseph Smith once
traveled during his visit to Michigan.
The saints have truly been
blessed for having living prophets in our company. This
I know to be true and am thankful for that.
Kenneth Little
Sterling Heights, Michigan
**
I have had the unbelievable
blessing of being in the presence of not one, but two prophets.
Many years ago, President Kimball came to Ann Arbor for
an area conference. I was in the choir, wearing a bright
raspberry blazer. We were seated up next to the podium,
to the prophet's left. After the conference was concluded,
President Kimball turned to us to thank us for our music.
I stood in the center of the choir, my blazer a pink magnet
(which I really hadn’t planned on! I was new in the Church),
and the prophet couldn't help but look straight at me. But
I quite literally felt a shock of joy run through my body
as he spoke in his whispery voice his thanks for our contribution.
I knew, without a single doubt, that he was the Prophet
of God.
The second time was at the
dedication of the Detroit Temple. I was again in the choir
for one of the dedicatory sessions, and we were privileged
to stand in the Celestial Room with the General Authorities
during our performance. I was put right behind President
Hinckley's chair (and told firmly that I was NOT to touch
the chair, or the Prophet! As if!) We sang several songs,
so I was behind him a lot during the dedication. It was
an incredibly emotional experience for all of us. Afterwards,
he turned around to thank us for our music. He shook our
hands (mine first!), and spoke briefly to us about the importance
of music to the Lord. I had the same shock, the same feelings
of joy, in the presence of this prophet as I did with President
Kimball. I know, with an unshakable sure knowledge, that
President Hinckley is the Lord's Prophet on the earth, and
that he is directing this Church through the guidance and
blessing of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Rita G. Miller
Ann Arbor, Michigan
*********************************************************
“I Am Only One, But
I Am One.” Edward Everett Hale
Read
Article Here
What Values Are You
Willing to Defend? by Fay A. Klingler
I was touched by this article.
While my wife and I have a loving committed marriage, still
there's always room for improvement. A lot of this article
applies to everyone and it serves as a good "check
up" on being "Self" centered in a very spiritual
unity with personal values and personal integrity.
I particularly need to heed
Mahatma Gandhi's sage wisdom that “We must be the change
we wish to see.” I'm fairly successful at that in my professional,
personal and family life, yet I am still personally challenged
with creating change in the bigger world. I have written
two books (a non-fiction and a novel) and established the
beginnings of a website, http://www.wakeupliberty.org;
yet I still sit and question my willingness to bring change
to the wrongs I see and an outcome I fear should I remain
silent. As I get closer to 'coming out of the closet' with
my point of view I look again and again to the Holy Spirit
for guidance.
I can stand in the front of
500 people and speak without difficulty, yet I am struck
dumb when I attempt to touch the commitment people like
Joseph Smith, Mahatma Gandhi, Jesus and his Disciples were
in tune with. Its little wonder each of them moved the world
in their commitment to God. When I am told that "one
person can't make a difference" I always remind the
speaker that it's "always" one person that makes
the difference. And, remembering another wise phrase, I
recall that "we are called to teach the lessons we
need to learn."
Thank you for this article,
I'll pray on some of its wisdom.
Dan Horne
Mesa, Arizona
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Writers’ Guide
Read
Article Here
National Update
Take Action: Help Stop
Ed Programs that Encourage Sexual Activity
I just want to thank you for
letting us know about these important issues that we don't
read about in our newspapers, or hear on the local news.
And thank you also, for letting us know who to contact and
how to do it. It makes it so much easier to "let our
voices be raised" against the moral decay that is invading
our society. I've been able to write to authorities about
many issues because of your good work!
Tamy Lee
Reno, Nevada
**
I hope the 2nd Coming is soon.
Oh, how much of this depravity can/must we endure? These
people really have allowed Satan’s influence into their
lives. We allow them to be with ‘our’ children, our Father’s
most choice spirits?
Corrine Parkes
Prescott, Arizona
**
I think this is reprehensible.
It's way overdue in my opinion to nip these types of programs
in the bud. This is from the far left who unfortunately
gets the go-ahead to push such destructive ideas on children.
The U.S. Government does not care either. I am convinced
of that. They turn their heads when they have the power
to stop these dangerous agendas. Who would know the day
when religion is taboo and teaching children sexual activity
in public school is healthy and accepted?
Definitely, these are the signs
of the times.
Jennie Kurono
Japan
**
We appreciate your time, effort,
and talents in writing and sharing your ideas with us! We
are raising 2 granddaughters ages 5 & 6 right now and
all the help we can get is so beneficial! We just wanted
to take a minute and tell you THANK YOU!!
Colleen and Charlie Durfee
Rock Springs, WY
